Hernial truss.



IATENTED JULY 14, 1903.

J. B. SH'EEHAN.

HERNIAL TRUSS. APPLIOATIO rum) an N0 MODEL.

- UNITED STATES Patented July 14;, 1903,

PATENT OFFICE.

HERNIAL TRUSS.

,aPECIFIGATION formingoart of Letters Patent No. 733,879, dated July 14,1903.

Application filed September 2, 1902; Serial No. 121,794. (No model.)

To all whom zit-may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. SHEEHAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Atchison, in the county of Atchison and State ofKansas, have invented certain new and usef ul Improvements inHernia-Trusses',of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trusses, and has special reference to thattype of trusses designed for use in the treatment of hernia or rupture.

To this end the invention primarily contemplates a simple and practicalform of truss which can be worn with perfect ease and comfort by thewearer, whileat the same time providing effectual means for positivelyand firmly holding the afflicted parts in a natural position withoutdanger of enlargement of the break or'rupture. In theaccomplishment ofthese desirable objects the invention has in view a truss in which theparts are so constructed and arranged as to permit the truss to freelyadjust itself to the movements of the body and at the same time alwaysexert a pressure directly on and over the hernia. In other words, theinvention contemplates a truss which-will remain in position under allconditions, is easily applied, and cannot possibly pinch the body.

With these and many other objects in view, which will more readilyappear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the sameconsists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The essential feature of the invention involved in the novel mounting ofthe front and back pads is necessarilysusceptible to modification from astructural standpoint; but a preferred embodiment of the invention isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspectiveView of a single form of truss designed for hernia of the right side,said truss beingconstructed in accordance with the present invention.Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the front pad and the contiguousportion of the body-spring.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. at isan elevation of the back pad and the contiguous portion of the bodyspring or band. Fig. 5 is asectional view on ably constructed ofspring-wire in order to constitute the pressure-spring of the truss, andsaid pressure-spring or body-bandis of a suflicient length to extendaround the hip of the wearer, with the opposite -terminalsthereofdisposed respectively at the front and back of the body. The saidpressurespring or body-band 1 is provided at its front extremity with adownwardly-deflected supporting-terminal 2, which may be either aseparate part or integrally formed with the body-band, as shown in thedrawings, but necessarily a rigid part thereof. The downwardly-deflectedsupporting-terminal 2 at the front end of the body-band is preferablydisposed at an obtuse angle to the adjacent portion of the band in orderto provide an axis of movement for the front pad 3 substantially in linewith the diposition of the tract in which the hernia or rupture islocated. The said front pad 3 may he formed of any of the materials ofwhich truss-pads are ordinarily constructed; but in the presentinvention the said pad preferably consists of a. circular block providedwith a flat inner face 4 and of a downwardly-tapering thickness, asplainly shown in the drawings, whereby the pad-body is thicker at thetop than at the bottom, thus giving thepad the proper lift, so that theparts will be held in position under all conditions without irritationof the body. By reason of the flat inner face of the pad the hernia willhe held in natural position without any tendency to enlarge or keep openthe break or rupture, which is a very desirable thing in the treatmentof this afflic tion. The said front pad 3 is provided on the outer orfront side thereof with a socketthe body-band, thus completing aswiveldirection.

joint connection between the body-band and the front pad, whereby thelatter will be laterally tiltable on an approximately vertical axis, butwill have no movement in any other A swiveled connection between theterminal 2 and the socket 8 of the pad 3 is preferably provided by ascrew-threaded engagement of the parts, which screw-thread ed engagementnot only permits of a free swiveled movement, but also provides for anadjustment with reference to its support. The same character of swiveledconnection is preferably employed in the mounting of the hack pad, to bepresently referred to. In addition to the slight lateral obliquity ofthe terminal 2 the same is slightly inclined inwardly to give acorresponding inward inclination to the front pad 3 in order that thelatter may be perfectly adapted to the shape of the body at the point ofapplication.

At its rear end the body-band 1 is provided with a straight orapproximately horizontal supporting-terminal 9, which is swiveled insideof the horizontallydisposed bearingsocket 10, formed in an enlargement11 on the socket-plate 12, screwed or otherwise suitably fastened to theouter side of the rear or back pad 13. The back pad 13 is alsopreferably of a circular form and is provided with a flat inner face 14for contact with the body. The construction described provides formounting the back pad in such a way that the same is vertically tiltableon an approximately horizontal axis.

The socket-plates of the front and rear pads are preferably providedwith the offstanding holding-studs 15 and 16, which are engaged by asecuring-strap 17, which is designed to loosely extend around the sideof the body opposite the body-band 1 to guard against displacement ofthe truss.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, self-adjustingaction, and many advantages of the herein-described truss will bereadily apparent without further description, and it will be understoodthat various changes in the form, proportion, and arrangement of partsmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In a truss, the body-band provided at its front end,with adownwardly-deflected supporting-terminal,-a front pad having asocketplate provided with a socket enlargement having a bearing-socketreceiving said defiected supporting-terminal, both the latter and thebearingsocket having a screw-threaded engagement to provide both aswiveled connection and also for an adjustable mounting of the frontpad, and a back pad having a socket-plate provided with a socketenlargement having a hearing-socket receiving the rear terminal of thebody-band, said rear terminal of the body-band and also thebearingsocket'carried by the back pad having a screwthreaded engagementto provide a swiveled connection and-also for the detachable mounting ofthe back pad.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. SHEEIIAN.

Witnesses:

Z. E. JACKSON, W. A. JACKSON.

